California Apparel News

The California Fashion Foundation (CFF), the philanthropic wing of the California Fashion Association (CFA), is finalizing preparations for its poker tournament fund-raiser, to be held July 15 at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, Calif.

The event will help celebrate the organization’s 10th anniversary and raise funds for several programs, including apparel and textile scholarship support and community outreach.

The CFF has finalized the 54 sponsors featured in the organization’s limited-edition deck of cards, which will be used in the poker tournament and will be sent to 5,000 retailers and merchants later this year. The cards were designed by graphic designer Joe Iacono. Each card features a rendering of an item from a California company’s collection, along with that company’s logo.

In addition to the poker tournament, the evening will feature an opportunity to bet on and watch the horse races from the private casino and patio, which overlook the track. There will be an international buffet (including hot dogs from famous Hollywood hot-dog stand Pink’s) and a no-host bar.

Several prizes will be raffled off throughout the evening, including the grand prize Card Player Cruise for two. Other prizes include Dodgers box seats, Lakers tickets, a full-page ad in California Apparel News and two cases of vintage champagne. Organizers will also raffle off several meals from the restaurants at Hollywood Park, courtesy of racetrack owner Leo Chu, a former manufacturer who founded Ivy of California.

“A good time will be had by all,” said CFA Executive Director Ilse Metchek. “Leo Chu has bent over backwards to make this a fabulous evening. He hopes to make it an annual event.”

Prices are $100 for admission, parimutuel betting and two drink tickets; $300 for admission to the event and the tournament; and $3,000 for a sponsored table for six. (Gamblers must be at least 21 years old.)

Among the companies already signed on as sponsors are California Apparel News, the California Market Center, First Capital Funding Corp., Moss Adams LLP, Buchalter, Nemer, Fields & Younger, CIT Financial Services, Norman Krieger Inc., Stonefield Josephson Inc., GMAC Financial Services, Cooper Design Space, Cohn Handler & Co., Security Textiles, Progressive Label Inc., Grobstein, Horwath & Co. LLP, Kaufman & Kabani and Wasserman, Comden, Casselman & Pearson.

The CFF is a nonprofit organization founded to make a positive contribution to the apparel and textile industries and to support the apparel and textile community. Through fund raising and donations, the group offers scholarship support; funding for after-school arts and music programs; and clothing to organizations such as Operation School Bell, which provides apparel and personal grooming products to school children in extreme need.

For more information about the event, call (213) 688-6288.